Edward Balls: The Government are strongly supportive of international efforts to tackle the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to prevent the abuse of financial systems. My written ministerial statement of 7 February 2007, Official Report, column 37WS informed Parliament that the Government were seeking the agreement of the Privy Council for the adoption of an Order in Council concerned with giving effect to the financial sanctions against Iran's nuclear programme as required by UNSCR 1737. The Iran (Financial Sanctions) Order 2007 was laid before Parliament on 8 February and came into force on 9 February.
	On 19 April, the European Union adopted EC Regulation No 423/2007. This regulation implements at a Community level the sanctions against Iran agreed under UNSCR 1737. It also establishes an autonomous EU financial sanctions list against entities and individuals associated with Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The regulation came into force on 20 April and is directly applicable in the UK. Council decision 2007/242/EC establishing the autonomous EU financial sanctions list came into force on 24 April.
	In order to enforce the financial sanctions elements of EC Regulation No 423/2007, the Government are today laying before the Parliament the "Iran (European Community Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2007". These establish prohibitions, offences and penalties with regard to persons who are on the autonomous EU financial sanctions list in relation to Iran. The "Iran (Financial Sanctions) Order 2007" continues to apply with regard to persons who are on the UN financial sanctions list in relation to Iran.
	As set out in the explanatory memorandum to the regulations, it is necessary that the regulations come into force as soon as possible in order to minimise the risk of asset flight. For this reason, the Government consider them necessary to waive the usual convention that there should be at least a 21 day period between regulations being laid and coming into force. Accordingly, the regulations will come into force tomorrow.

Ben Bradshaw: I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the following performance targets for 2007-08.
	Service Delivery
	1. To meet 85 per cent. of rationale, objectives, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation (ROAME) milestones.
	2. To achieve 85 per cent. of surveillance deliverables to time.
	3. To achieve a three-year weighted average score of at least82 per cent. in the VLA customer satisfaction survey.
	Quality
	4. VLA science audit—achieve a score, which is good or above in the majority of the assessment areas including one excellent rating.
	5. Maintain current third party certifications and accreditations
	Financial
	6. To achieve full cost recovery.
	Efficiency
	7. To deliver 2.5 per cent. efficiency savings.
	Safety
	8. Implement the VLA safety plan 2007-08 to timescales indicated.
	Collaboration
	9. Establish a formal framework agreement for extending collaboration with the Institute for Animal Health
	Further details are given in the VLA business plan for 2007-08 a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House along with copies of the VLA corporate plan.